The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-07-29
JESS.
HvH,NpER HAeaANp.
nRsPss '1Qet seiemeEs auReS St%ue


aCume you, stop that wixards talk. said
Muller, his teeth chattering with fear and
agitation. "Taks the horse and clean and
feed him we'll; he has gslloped far, and We
start at dawn. Stopl tell me, where are the
lights and the brandy II you have drunk
the brandy viii hog YOU"
"They are on the shelf on the left a. you
GO In, baas, and there Il hesh there, too, and
bread"
Muller swung himself from the saddle and
entered the hut, pushing open the cranky,
broken hinged door with kick. He found
the box of Tandstickor matches, and, after
one or two false shots-due chiefly to bis shak-
ing haud-smcceeded In getting fire and light
ing q coarse dip such as the Beers make out
of mutton fat. Near the candle was bottle
of peach brandy two-thirds full, and tin
pannikin and jug Of river water. SEEKING
the pannikin, he filed 1t half full of spirit,
added q little water, and drank the mixture
off, Then he took down the meat and bread
from the same shelf, and, cutting some Of
each of with his clasp knife, tried to eat
But he could not eat much, and soon gave up
the attempt, consoling himself instead with
the brandy.
"Bah" he said, 1.-THE stuff tastes like hell
fire." and he filled his pipe and sat smoking.
Presently Hendrix came in to say that the
horse was eating well, and was about to 60
again. when his master beckoned him to
stop. The man was surprised, for Muller
was not generally fond of his society, except
when he wanted to consult him or get him to
exercise his pretended art Of divination; hut
the fact was that at that moment Frank
Muller would have been glad to consort with
q dog. The events Of the night had brought
this terrible man, stepped III iniquity from
his youth up, down to the level Of child
frightened at the dark. For q while he sat
in silence, the Kaffir squatted on the ground
at bis feet Presently, however, the doses OF
powerful spirit took effect on him, and he
began to talk more unguardedly than was his
custom, even with his black familiar" Hen
dirk.
allow long have you been herea" he asked
of his retainer.
"About four days, baas"
ibid you take my letter to ON Croftsf"
"Yah, haas. gave 1t to the missile"
"What did she dot"
"She read it and then stood like this, hold
ing on to the veranda pole;" and be opened
his mouth and one eye. and twisted up his
hideous countenance into CHASTITY imitation
Of one of the posts that supported the hut to
assist in the performance
$50 she believed it,"
"Surely."
"Well, we are going there tomorrow"
$50, baas I knew that before you told
me-"
uvyy- ,,,, ~~,;c.x ~boro aud 1uo orn <ro;po IN
take the place; and we are going to try Uncle
Silas by court martial for flying an English
flag, and if he is found guilty we are going to
shoot him, Hendrix"
$50, baas," said the Kafir, rubbing his
hands in glee; "but will lie he found guiltys"
II don't know" murmured the white man,
stroking his golden beard; 'that will depend
upon what missile has to say; and upon the
verdict of the court, !" he added, by way of an
ION the verdict of the court, ha! hal"
his wicked satellite ION the YER
dict of the court, yes! yes! and the baas
will be president, ha! hal One needs no
to guess the verdict. And II the
court finds Uncle Silas guilty, who will do
the shooting, baasg"
u have not thought Of that; the time has
not come to think Of it. Ut does not matter;
anybody can carry out the sentence OF the
law.nt
aBaas,n said the Kaffir, ~ have done much
for you and had little pay. have done ugly
things. l have read omens and made medi-
cines, and 'smelt out your enemies. Will
you grant me favora Will you let me shoot
ON Croft if the court finds him guilty9 1t is
not much to ask, baas. I am a clever wiz
zard. and deserve my pay"
"Why do you want to shoot him!"
because he fogged me once, years ago,
for being witch doctor, and the other day
be hunted me off the place. Besides, it is so
nice to shoot white man. / should like it
BETTER" he went on, with a smack of the lips,
"if it were missile, who set the dog on me. ]
would
In a moment Frank Muller had the aston
ished ruffian by the throat and was kicking
and shaking him as though he were q toy.
His brutal talk of Bessie had appealed to such
as he had in him, and, whatever his
own wickedness may have been, be was too
madly in love with the woman to let her name
be taken in vain by man whom, though he
held his "magic" in superstitious reverence,
he yet ranked lower than dog With his
nerves strung to the highest possible state of
tension, and half drunk as he was, Frank
Muller was no more person to be played
with or irritated than q mad bull.
"You black beast!' he yelled, IF you ever
dare to mention her name again like that
will kill you, for all your wltchcraft," and he
hurled him with such force up against the
wall Of the hut that the whole place shook.
The man fell, lay for moment groaning and
then crept from the hut ON his hands and
knees.
Muller sat scowling from under his bent
brows and watched him 60. When he was
gone he rose and fastened the door behind
him, and then suddenly burst into tears; the
result, no doubt, Of the mingled effects of the
drink, mental and physical exhaustion and
the never resting passion lone can scarcely
call it love- that ate away at his heart like the
worm that dieth not.
"Oh, Bessie, Bessie!" he groaned, II have
done 1t all for you. Surely you cannot be
angry when have killed them all for youi
Oh, my darling, my darling! II you only
knew how I love you! Oh, my darling my
darling" and in an agony Of passion he flung
himself down on the rough pallet in the
corner of the hut and sobbed himself to Sleep
Somehow Frank Huller's evil doing did not
make him any the happier, the fact Of the
matter being that to enjoy welcomes q man
must be not only without conscience, but also
without passion. Now Frank Muller was
tormerted with very effective substitute for